The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-19
Our State Educational Iusti buttons

THE INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE.
EDITOR CLARION: In The CLARION
of 9Th inst, | gave a brief account of
the Industrial Institute and College To-
Gated in this city. In that communica-
ton / expressed the opinion that the
Legislature should provide for the &C
commodation of six hundred pupils in
the dormitory. And when we consider
the extraordinary advantages which this
Institution affords to the girls of our
State-the poor girls especially-and
when we know that all of that number
would be glad to avail themselves of its
advantages, | do not consider my esti-
mate at all extravagant. But when /
also consider the financial condition of
the State at present. condition super
induced by no mismanagement of the
Governor, or improper action of the Leg
islature, but by the enormous inequality
in taxation throughout the State-I do
not think it would be wise TO ask for
more at present than will be necessary
to support the College, and make room
for one hundred more girls in the dor
mitory. This, it seems to me, is the
least that ought to be done for the Col
lege by the next Legislature. Mr..
Evans, in his letter to the New Orleans
Picayune, of September 26th, has shown
by figures which cannot lie, tina the in
creased tax to support this Institution
is a mere bagatelle. 1t can hurt nobody.
And | doubt whether any intelligent
citizen of the State, if he were interro-
gated personally, would be unwilling to
pay the very small increase in his taxes
which the ample support of this impor-
tant Institution would entail. | have
no sinister motive in advocating the
claims of this Institution. / have no
official connection with the College in
any way, / have no children to be edu-
Gated in it, and do not expect personally
to derive any advantages whatever from
the College. What | write and what
say in behalf of the Institution is purely
pro pubtico bono. think the Institution is
destined to confer incalculable blessings
upon the noble girls of our State for all
time to come; and as patriot and phi
lanthropist, and as friend to woman, |
desire its prosperity. Our city has given
to this College over 800, 900, in the dona-
ton of the Columbus Institute, with
twenty acres of land, and bonds TO the
amount of $4,000, only two of which
remain to be paid. Ibis expenditure in
creases our city taxes about 100 per
cent, until the bonds are all paid. And
all this, in addition to the State taxes
which we share with all the citizens of
the Commonwealth. And yet, we do
not complain. Our intelligent citizens
feel pride contributing thus largely
to the support of an Institution which
has for its object the education and ele.
walton of the women of the State. And
| confess that should feel the blush of
shame on my brow, if the citizens of
this great State should allow such an in
stitution to languish and die for the
lack of a few thousand dollars of State
aid. Nay, | should be ready to exclaim
with the poet,
Ny State" At once from thy arms will sever:
III quit thee forever and ever;
nd thinking of thee in my long after years
Viii bat kindie my bushes, and waken my tears
In another letter, | will have some
thing to say about the A. & NJ. College,
another of our noble State institutions.
Yours, respectfully and truly,
THos. q. TEAsDALE.
Columbus, Oct. 10, 1897.